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appendix-34-abo-personality-1

Appendix 34. ABO & Personality

ABO
Polymorphism & Personality

The idea that
the ABO blood type is partially involved in the determination of personality is
still quite common. This belief is especially popular in Japan and Taiwan. A
series of books written by Masahiko Nomi seem to have contributed, to some
degree, to the popularity of this theory. The books depicted numerous anecdotal
examples, but the statistical analyses were based on subjective data rather
than objective one.

Because of this
lack of objectivity, I do not think that any association between ABO
polymorphism and personality has been really demonstrated. All the claims
currently made on this regard seem to be groundless. Or at least they do not
seem to withstand scientific evaluation.

ABH antigens
are expressed in the primary sensory neurons of the posterior root ganglia in
the nervous system. Although there is no direct connection between the sensory
neurons and personality, it is still possible that the ABO polymorphism may
affect the response of those cells. Apart from neurons, the polymorphic
expression of the ABH antigens on other types of cells, including RBCs in
circulation, some cells in the digestive tract, some cells in respiratory,
endocrine, urinary, and genital organs may indirectly affect the personality.

ABO gene is one
of 25,000-plus genes contained in the human genome. But because of the
abundance and wide distribution of ABH antigens, I will not be so surprised if in
the future, the currently fashionable genome-wide association studies (GWAS)
find an association between certain definable personality traits and ABO SNPs.